What is the difference between emotion, mood and feelings?

Emotions, moods, and feelings are related to each other but are distinct concepts. Here’s a brief explanation of the differences:

1. Emotion: Emotions are brief, intense, and specific responses to a particular stimulus, such as an event or situation. They involve both physiological and psychological changes, such as changes in heart rate, breathing, and subjective experience. Examples of emotions include happiness, anger, fear, sadness, and surprise.
2. Mood: Moods are longer-lasting than emotions and tend to be less specific. They are a general state of mind or feeling that can persist for hours or even days. Moods are often influenced by multiple factors, such as environment, genetics, and life experiences. Examples of moods include being in a good mood, bad mood, or depressed mood.
3. Feelings: Feelings are subjective experiences that can be triggered by emotions or moods. They are typically less intense and shorter-lasting than emotions and can be influenced by cognitive processes such as thoughts and beliefs. Examples of feelings include love, hate, envy, guilt, and shame.

In summary, emotions are specific responses to a particular stimulus, moods are more general states of mind or feeling, and feelings are subjective experiences that can be triggered by emotions or moods.